Romans (Sacra Pagina | SP)
Digital Verbum Edition
Overview
This commentary adopts a literary-rhetorical approach, viewing the letter as an instrument of persuasion designed to transform readers through a celebratory presentation of the Gospel. Reflecting upon the fate of Jews and Gentiles, Paul wins his audience to a vision of a God who always acts inclusively. The God who, in the person of Israel’s Messiah (Jesus), has acted faithfully to include the Gentile peoples within the community of salvation, will not fail to see to the eventual inclusion of Israel as well. In the victory of grace displayed already in the risen humanity of Jesus, the original design of the Creator for human communities and for the world begins to come true.
The interpretation of Paul’s letter to Rome has accompanied and stimulated the path of Christian theology down to today. Romans touches upon virtually all main issues of Christian theology, as well as presenting a rewarding introduction to Paul. Brednan Byrne facilitates full access to Paul and his Gospel through the letter, allowing Christians today to hear his voice as intelligibly and powerfully as it has spoken to past generations.
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- Views Romans as an instrument of persuasion
- Facilitates full access to Paul and his Gospel
- Presents a thorough commentary on Romans
Top Highlights
“one lives in total openness and surrender to God, acknowledging the sole claim and sovereignty of the Creator” (Page 192)
“Moreover, the contrast with the preceding statement about sin (v 23) suggests that ‘being justified’ (dikaioumenoi) contains a significant ethical element: believers are being ‘made righteous,’ not simply ‘declared righteous’ and this is being achieved, not by a legal fiction—which would in effect be immoral (cf. Isa 5:23; Prov 17:15; Exod 23:7)—but through a distinctive act of God’s grace effective in the redemptive work of Christ.” (Pages 125–126)
“It is in accordance with this ‘knowledge’ that human beings are particularly motivated to change or to act. Hence appeal to or modification of the ‘symbolic universe’ will be a key weapon in any strategy of persuasion—from campaigns to sell a particular brand of toothpaste to the highest flights of political or religious discourse.” (Page 7)
“But Romans is a document seeking not merely to inform its addressees but also to persuade and move them in various directions.” (Page 4)
“Through the Spirit the eschatological people of God was to be purified, cleansed and readied for the life of the new age.” (Page 167)
One can commend this commentary with confidence, not because one is persuaded by all its judgments (what commentary, especially on Romans, achieves that?), but because Byrne has struggled not only with Paul but also with the issues Paul struggled with. Alert users will appreciate that.
—Leander E. Keck, Yale Divinity School
Brendan Byrne, SJ, PhD, is professor of New Testament at Jesuit Theological College, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
